Handbag interior illuminating device

ABSTRACT

A handbag having a device for completely illuminating the interior thereof, the illumination device including an enclosure with vertical walls having a configuration corresponding to the shape of the bottom of a handbag in which the device is to be used, and a horizontal panel of transparent or translucent plastic. At least one light and a battery power supply are automatic or manual switch. The horizontal panel of the illuminating device forms the bottom of the complete purse and acts as a diffusing panel to completely illuminate the interior of the purse when the light is energized. The bottom of the enclosure preferably includes a sliding plate to obtain access to the interior thereof for replacing the light bulb and batteries from the bottom of the purse. The illumination device may be installed during manufacture of the handbag, or may be formed as a removable telescoping unit so that the device may be selectively used with separate handbags having different lengths.

Pottratz [5. HANDBAG INTERIOR ILLUNIINATING DEVICE [76] Inventor: Rose T. Pottratz, 275 Commerical St., Provincetown, Mass. 02657 [22] 7 Filed: Oct. 2, 1972 [21] Appl. No.2 293,891

[52] US. Cl 240/6.45 P, 240/6.45 R [51] Int. Cl. A45c 15/06 [58] Field of Search 240/6.45 R, 6.45 P, 6.4 R

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,334,480 1 H1943 Cross 240/6.45 P X 2,454,895 11/1948 Theernell et a1. 240/645 P 2,689,907 9/1954 Wilson l 240/6.45 P

690,753 1/1902 McCormick 240/6.4 R

1,458,329 6/1923 Elfelt 240/6.45 P

2,192,820 3/1940 Taylor 240/6.45 P 2,480,800 8/1949 Wickwire 240/6.45 P 3,045,900 7/1962 Zekendorf... 240/6.45 R X 3,307,027 2/1967 Lins et a1..... 240/6.45 P 3,413,458 11/1968 Barefoot ..,240/6.4 R X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 520,274 4/1940 Great Britain 240/6.45 P

[ Apr. 30, 1974 Primary Examiner-Samuel S. Matthews Assistant ExaminerE. M. Bero Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Sughrue, Rothwell, Mion, Zinn & Macpeak ABSTRACT Ahandbag having a device for completely illuminating the interior thereof, the illumination device including an enclosure with vertical walls having a configuration corresponding to the shape of the bottom of a handbag in which the device is to be used, and a horizontal panel of transparent or translucent plastic. At least one light and a battery power supply are automatic or manual switch. The horizontal panel of the illuminating device forms the bottom of the complete purse and acts as a diffusing-panel to completely illuminate the interior of the purse when the light is energized. The bottom of the enclosure preferably includes a sliding plate to obtain access to the interior thereof for replacing the light bulb and batteries from the bottom of the purse. The illumination device may be installed during manufacture of the handbag, or may be formed as a removable telescoping unit so that the device may be selectively used with separate handbags having different lengths.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures HANDBAG INTERIOR ILLUNIINATING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to handbags having an interior illuminating means, and more specifically, to a device adapted for attachment to a handbag or for forming an integral part thereof for completely illuminating the interior of the handbag from the bottom.

2. Description of the Prior Art The prior art devices for illuminating the interior compartment or compartments of handbags have generally used individually mounted light bulbs or small individual housings which illuminate only a portion of the interior of the handbag immediately adjacent the light source. These illuminating devices are usually mounted near the top of the handbag compartment adjacent the openings thereof. Such lighting devices therefore illuminate only the areas immediately adjacent the light source and create shadows in the portions of the interior of the handbags located at a distance from the light source, thus making it difficult to see objects located in the shadows.

Other prior art handbag interior illuminating devices use separate individual light sources mounted in the various separate interior compartments within the interior of the handbags. This creates manufacturing problems, since wires must be placed in the handbag to connect the various individual light sources with the power supply source.

Although the prior art illumination devices have used automatic lock operated switches, none of the specific lighting systems and arrangements of the prior art constructions provide a single light source for completely illuminating the entire interior of the handbag indirectly through a clear or translucent plastic panel from the bottom of the handbag to reduce the glare and shadows within the interior of the handbag.

Although clear or translucent plastic panels have been placed above or adjacent alight source in other prior art devices, such as drawing boards and jewelry cases, to illuminate the entire surface of the board or a portion of the interior of the cavity of the jewelry case, no such construction has been previously constructed as an integral part of a handbag structure during manufacture of the handbag to completely illuminate the interior of a handbag and to avoid the creation of shadows within the interior thereof. Furthermore, no prior art illumination device for handbags can be selectively adapted to various handbags of different lengths by the user and form an integral portion thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One of the objects of the present invention is to present a handbag having a clear, light transmitting or luminescent panel positioned to overlie the bottom thereof, with a light source below the panel to completely illuminate the interior of the handbag without creating any shadows therewithin.

Another object of the present invention is to present a self-contained handbag interior illuminating device having a filed upper panel formed of clear or translucent material and a slidable lower panel and-adapted for mounting in the bottom of a handbag during manufacture to present an illuminated bottom surface for the handbag.

A still further object of the present invention is to present a self-contained handbag interior illuminating device having a top surface panel formed of light transmitting material and a slidable bottom panel for obtaining access to the interior of the device for replacement of the batteries and light bulbs contained therein, and adapted to be removably attached to a selected handbag by the user.

These and other objects of the present invention will.

be seen from reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and viewing the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a handbag showing the sliding plate in the bottom of one embodiment of the illumination device for obtaining access to the batteries and light bulb or bulbs contained therein;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, showing the interior arrangement of the illuminating device according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1, showing-the position of the light transmitting horizontal top plastic sheet of the illuminating device according to one embodiment of the present invention; I

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein the illuminating device may be removably inserted into a selected handbag by the user;

, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a telescoping removable illuminating device used in the embodiment of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the second embodiment, taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5, showing the arrangement of the telescoping parts.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED ENIBODIMENTS Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, which illustrate a first embodiment of the subject invention in which the illuminating device is constructed as an integral part of the handbag during manufacture, the handbag assembly 2 has vertical sidewalls 4 constructed of a suitable material such as cloth, vinyl or leather, and formed in the desired configuration by any suitable means, such as molding, sewing, gluing or heat forming. The hand-- generally rectangular configuration, although any suitable configuration may be used. A plurality of light bulb assemblies 14 are attached to the interior surfaces of the side and end walls 12 around the circumference thereof. However, a single, centrally located light bulb assembly may be used if desired. A power supply source in the form of batteries 16 are mounted within the side and end walls 12 of the illuminating device and are electrically connected to the light bulbs 14 by any suitable means, such as wires, printed circuit boards, or

the like. A manually operated push-button switch 18 is mounted in the end wall 12 of the illuminating device 10 and extends through the material 4 of the handbag for actuation by the user, as shown in FIG. 1. However, an automatic switch located in the lock or latch mechanism 8 and wired into the lighting circuit may be substituted for the manual push-button switch 18 if desired.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the illuminating device 10 of the subject invention has a top surface or upper horizontal panel 20 formed of clear or translucent plastic, such as Lucite or any other material suitable for light transmission therethrough. Preferably, the panel 20 should be formed of a rigid, unbreakable sheet material. The top surface panel 20 forms the bottom of the interior cavity of the handbag 2. The bottom of the illuminating device 10 is closed by a slidable plastic panel 22, which is positioned by two L-shaped guide rails 23 formed of plastic and angled lips 24 formed on the side rails 12, as seen in FIG. 3. The side and end walls 12 are attached to the bottom interior surface of the handbag wall material 4 by any suitable means, such as sewing, gluing or other desired process.

The operation of the first preferred embodiment will now be described. When the handbag user desires to retrieve an article from the interior of thehandbag 2, the handbag is opened and the manual push-button 18 is depressed to energize the light bulbs 14. In the alternative, if an automatic switch is contained in the latch mechanism 8, the light bulb or bulbs 14 will be automatically illuminated when the handbag is opened by the user. The light from the light bulbs 14 will be transmitted through the top surface panel 20 and will be diffused thereby to completely illuminate the entire interior of the handbag 2 and eliminate any shadows created by articles contained in the handbag, thus enabling the user to easily see the article being sought.

When it is necessary to replace either the light bulbs 14 or the batteries 16, the user merely slides the bottom panel 22 longitudinally of the illuminating device 10 along the L-shaped guide rail 23, as shown in FIG. 1,

to obtain access to the interior of the illuminating device 10. Following replacement of the bulbs or battery, the bottom panel 22 is moved to the closed position.

A'second embodiment of the subject invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 4 6. The second embodiment will be described using the same reference numerals corresponding to the equivalent parts of the above-described first embodiment, but having a prime mark attached thereto The interior illuminating device 10 of the second embodiment is of a telescoping construction, as shown in FIGS. and 6 and is adapted to be removably attached'to the wall material 4 of a handbag 2' having an open bottom, as well as being adapted for insertion of the illuminating device The second embodiment of the interior illuminat' ing device is of a two-piece telescoping construction, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. One end of the telescoping assembly hasthe side and end wall l2'positioned around the periphery of and extending above and below the top surface or horizontal panel or sheet', which is formed of clear or translucent plastic such as Lucite, in the same manner as set forth hereinabove with regard to the first embodiment. The sidewalls 12 are formed of rigid material, such as plastic, with slots 26 therein adjacent the top surface of the clear plastic panel 20'.

The opposite end assembly or second telescoping piece of the illuminating device 10 also has side and end walls 12" extending above and below a clear or translucent top surface or horizontal panel or sheet 20", as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The width of the second top surface panel 2 is slightly greater than the exterior width of the first telescoping end assembly having the slot 26 therein, so that the second top surface panel 20" will slide in the slots 26 to form an enclosed telescoping assembly.

The light bulb assemblies 14 and batteries 16 are contained within the side and end walls 12 and 12" below the top surface panels 20 and 20" in the same manner as described hereinabove with regard to the first embodiment.

If desired, a suitable sliding bottom panel 22'. may be slidably retained in the bottom of the illuminating device 10' in the same manner as employed by the first embodiment, although such construction is not illustrated specifically in the Figures. The bottom panels 22' and 22" can be made rigid with peripheral walls 12' and 12", if desired. An alternative means for obtaining access to the light bulb assemblies 14 and batteries 16' in the second embodiment is to removably retain the top surface panels 20 and 20" within the confines of the peripheral walls 12' and 12".

Although the second embodiment of the present invention has been described for being removably attached to the side compartment walls 4' of a handbag assembly 2', the device 10 may be positioned through the top opening of a handbag 2' and rest on a closed bottom formed integrally with the sidewalls 4' of the handbag 2. If the illuminating device 10 is used in this manner, the peripheral walls 12' and 12" should extend above the top surface panels 20, 20" so that when the device 10 is placed in the handbag 2 the upwardly extending peripheral walls 12' and 12" will prevent objects placed into the handbag from falling behind and below the illuminating device 10' between the device and the sides or bottom of the handbag 2'.

The present invention has application to attache cases and to luggage as well as handbags. Further, an automatic timing device may be employed in the electrical circuit to permit illumination for a predetermined limited time period after opening of the bag or depression of push button 18.

What is claimed is:

1. A handbag adapted to have its interior compartment completely illuminated, comprising in combination:

' a. a handbag having at least one interior compartment therein, said interior compartment formed by a plurality of handbag sidewalls and endwalls,

b. an illumination means within said compartment, said illumination means comprising: c. at least one light transmitting plastic sheet member secured in a horizontal position to form the complete bottom surface of said compartment of the handbag and extending between saidhandbag sidewalls and endwalls,

d. at least one light source mounted to said sheet member below said light transmitting plastic sheet for illuminating the complete bottom of said compartment;

e. a source of electrical power carried by said sheet member; and

f. switch means connecting said power source to said light source.

2. A handbag construction as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a closure panel slidably connected to the bottom edges of said handbag sidewalls to form a second compartment within said sidewalls between said light transmitting plastic sheet and said slidable panel, said slidable panel being adapted to obtain access to the interior of said second compartment therewithin.

3. A handbag construction as set forth in claim 1, wherein said light transmitting sheet member is translucent to diffuse the light transmitted therethrough across the entire surface of said sheet member.

4. A handbag construction as set forth in claim 1, wherein said switch means comprises a manually operable switch projecting through the material forming said handbag compartment, said switch being selectively operable manually by the user of the handbag to energize said light source to illuminate the interior compartment of said handbag.

5. A handbag construction as set forth in claim 1, wherein said illuminating means is of two-piece telescoping construction, one of said telescoping pieces including rigid peripheral walls attached to a first light transmitting sheet member around the partial perimeter thereof, said rigid peripheral walls on each side of the open portion of said perimieter of said first piece of plastic pane] having slots adjacent the surface of said light transmitting sheet member and extending from the ends of said peripheral walls, said second telescoping piece having upstanding rigid peripheral walls attached around the partial perimeter of a second sheet member of light transmitting plastic panel, the distance between the opposite peripheral walls of said second telescoping piece being slightly greater than the distance between the exterior surfaces of the opposite peripheral walls of said first telescoping piece, said second light transmitting plastic panel being slidably inserted within said slots in said first telescoping piece, wherein said illumination means can be adapted to handbag compartments of varying sizes and lengths.

6. A handbag construction as set forth in claim 5, wherein said illuminating means is removably secured to the bottom edge portions of the material forming said handbag.

7. A handbag construction as set forth in claim 5,

wherein said illuminating means is placed within the interior compartment of said handbag to form the bottom surface of said interior compartment.

8. An insertable, illumination device for completely illuminating the interior compartment of a handbag comprising:

a. first and second sections of a sheet of plastic material capable of light transmission therethrough positioned horizontally within said handbag and defining fully the bottom of said compartment,

b. first and second upstanding rigid peripneral walls attached to respective ones of said plastic sheet sections,

c. at least one light source mounted within said rigid peripheral walls below said plastic sheet sections,

. a power supply source contained within said rigid peripheral walls below said plastic sheets and electrically connected to the light source,

e. switch means being operable from the exterior of said illumination device, and being connected to said light source and said power source,

f. a closure panel slidably connected to the bottom edge of said upstanding rigid peripheral walls to form a second compartment between said light transmitting plastic sheet sections and said slidable closure panel, said closure panel being adapted to obtain access to the interior of said second compartment therewithin,

said device further being of two piece telescoping construction, one of said telescoping pieces including said first peripheral wall attached to said first section of light transmitting plastic sheet around the partial perimeter thereof, the rigid peripheral wall portions of said first wall on each side of the open portion of said perimeter of said first section of plastic sheet having slots adjacent the surface of said plastic sheet and extending from the ends of said peripheral wall portions, said second telescoping piece having said second peripheral wall attached around the partial perimeter of said second section of light transmitting plastic sheet, the lateral distance between opposing portions of said second telescoping piece being slightly greater than the distance between the opposed-wall portions of .said first telescoping piece, said second light transmitting plastic sheet section being slidably inserted within said slots and said first telescoping piece, wherein the illumination device can be adapted to handbags of varying sizes and lengths. r 

1. A handbag adapted to have its interior compartment completely illuminated, comprising in combination: a. a handbag having at least one interior compartment therein, said interior compartment formed by a plurality of handbag sidewalls and endwalls, b. an illumination means within said compartment, said illumination means comprising: c. at least one light transmitting plastic sheet member secured in a horizontal position to form the complete bottom surface of said compartment of the handbag and extending between said handbag sidewalls and endwalls, d. at least one light source mounted to said sheet member below said light transmitting plastic sheet for illuminating the complete bottom of said compartment; e. a source of electrical power carried by said sheet member; and f. switch means connecting said power source to said light source.
 2. A handbag construction as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a closure panel slidably connected to the bottom edges of said handbag sidewalls to form a second compartment within said sidewalls between said light transmitting plastic sheet and said slidable panel, said slidable panel being adapted to obtain access to the interior of said second compartment therewithin.
 3. A handbag construction as set forth in claim 1, wherein said light transmitting sheet mEmber is translucent to diffuse the light transmitted therethrough across the entire surface of said sheet member.
 4. A handbag construction as set forth in claim 1, wherein said switch means comprises a manually operable switch projecting through the material forming said handbag compartment, said switch being selectively operable manually by the user of the handbag to energize said light source to illuminate the interior compartment of said handbag.
 5. A handbag construction as set forth in claim 1, wherein said illuminating means is of two-piece telescoping construction, one of said telescoping pieces including rigid peripheral walls attached to a first light transmitting sheet member around the partial perimeter thereof, said rigid peripheral walls on each side of the open portion of said perimieter of said first piece of plastic panel having slots adjacent the surface of said light transmitting sheet member and extending from the ends of said peripheral walls, said second telescoping piece having upstanding rigid peripheral walls attached around the partial perimeter of a second sheet member of light transmitting plastic panel, the distance between the opposite peripheral walls of said second telescoping piece being slightly greater than the distance between the exterior surfaces of the opposite peripheral walls of said first telescoping piece, said second light transmitting plastic panel being slidably inserted within said slots in said first telescoping piece, wherein said illumination means can be adapted to handbag compartments of varying sizes and lengths.
 6. A handbag construction as set forth in claim 5, wherein said illuminating means is removably secured to the bottom edge portions of the material forming said handbag.
 7. A handbag construction as set forth in claim 5, wherein said illuminating means is placed within the interior compartment of said handbag to form the bottom surface of said interior compartment.
 8. An insertable, illumination device for completely illuminating the interior compartment of a handbag comprising: a. first and second sections of a sheet of plastic material capable of light transmission therethrough positioned horizontally within said handbag and defining fully the bottom of said compartment, b. first and second upstanding rigid peripneral walls attached to respective ones of said plastic sheet sections, c. at least one light source mounted within said rigid peripheral walls below said plastic sheet sections, d. a power supply source contained within said rigid peripheral walls below said plastic sheets and electrically connected to the light source, e. switch means being operable from the exterior of said illumination device, and being connected to said light source and said power source, f. a closure panel slidably connected to the bottom edge of said upstanding rigid peripheral walls to form a second compartment between said light transmitting plastic sheet sections and said slidable closure panel, said closure panel being adapted to obtain access to the interior of said second compartment therewithin, said device further being of two piece telescoping construction, one of said telescoping pieces including said first peripheral wall attached to said first section of light transmitting plastic sheet around the partial perimeter thereof, the rigid peripheral wall portions of said first wall on each side of the open portion of said perimeter of said first section of plastic sheet having slots adjacent the surface of said plastic sheet and extending from the ends of said peripheral wall portions, said second telescoping piece having said second peripheral wall attached around the partial perimeter of said second section of light transmitting plastic sheet, the lateral distance between opposing portions of said second telescoping piece being slightly greater than the distance between the opposed wall portions of said first telescoping piece, said second light transmitting plastic sheet section being slidably inserted within said slots and said first telescoping piece, wherein the illumination device can be adapted to handbags of varying sizes and lengths. 